effete — lacking strength, vigor, or effectiveness; worn out or exhausted
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: lacking strength, vigor, or effectiveness; worn out or exhausted
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪˈfiːt/
Example Sentences
- The CEO's effete leadership style made employees wonder if he had any energy left for important decisions.
- After years of luxury, the royal family had become effete and disconnected from reality.
- His effete attempts at exercise consisted mainly of lifting the TV remote.
effete
ADJECTIVE[/ɪˈfiːt/]
lacking strength, vigor, or effectiveness; worn out or exhausted

The effete aristocrat could barely lift his teacup at the garden party.

Too effete to complete, too worn to compete!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'effetus', meaning exhausted or worn out, derived from 'ex-' (out) and 'fetus' (fruitful, fertile). The term originally referred to animals that could no longer bear offspring.
Breakdown
ex- (out) + fetus (fertile, fruitful) = effetus (exhausted, worn out) → effete (lacking strength or vigor)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The CEO's effete leadership style made employees wonder if he had any energy left for important decisions.”
“After years of luxury, the royal family had become effete and disconnected from reality.”
“His effete attempts at exercise consisted mainly of lifting the TV remote.”
“The once-vibrant political movement had become effete and unable to inspire change.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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